This blog is dedicated for testing recent paragliders and flying gear.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

ADVANCE Iota

Hi,
The Iota is a new B class from ADVANCE that sits between the Sigma 9 and the Epsilon 7 .
It has all unsheathed lines and all the latest innovations. The
construction and the purely of the lines, is IMHO ,one of the best
you'll ever see...
Launching in moderate conditions the Iota is easy and smooth. I flew the
size 26 (75-100) from 92 to 96 and once airborne, the IOTA gave me a
solid and confidence inspiring feeling. The comfort is exactly between
the Epsilon 7 and the Sigma 9 and slightly toward the Sigma 9 . The
brakes authority are slightly less than the Sigma 9 which but still
direct and prompt at my loadings . The agility is slightly less than the
Sigma 9 but still very satisfying.
The trim speed is fast around 40 km/h.
The IOTA moves as a whole .The structure is very coherent and the turns
are initiated from the brakes rather than weight shift.
What impressed me is the gliding power of that superb machine ! I don't
want to say anything more than to let you see the videos (more to come)
I think this weapon has the ability to take you wherever your mind is set to go...
The climbing and the ability to surge upward is very good and still the
glider behaves very gently for the performance it delivers.
Induced collapses are soft in recovery.At least on my loadings. Big ears
are stable and reopen smoothly. The speed bar takes you + 13 km/h over
trim taken at 400 ASL.
Conclusion:
The IOTA will be the B glider to look at closely this season for it's 'complete ' package of climb - glide - comfort .

More to come on the IOTA

This video below shows the potential of the 2015 high-end B gliders. It
is NOT a comparison with high end D classes ,as the D class will always
have the upper hand...But on a B you can fly very far...Grab a beer and
enjoy this 27 mn Full HD video ! Smile
Cheers,
Ziad. UPDATE !A few more words concerning the Iota.

I have been flying the Iota with lots of B gliders recently, and now i have a more clear idea about that glider.The IOTA from ADVANCE is best flown at 95 all up on the 26. I could fly it less about 92 easily. And i did try to fly it at 98 which also didn’t affect at all the climb !

The turning behavior is as i said before not as agile as the Sigma 9 but the IOTA doesn’t dive in turns and has that stationary turn with this biting ability into thermals giving the pilot a very efficient climb rate !

Big ears are very stable and it’s efficient ! Very useful …Reopen smoothly…

Today my flying was in difficult conditions with a north windthat reduced our trim speed to 12 km/h facing the wind.

I was really surprised that after some hours flying with the best B’s of the moment at exactly same loadings for both (96.5) that the IOTA is a very interesting and efficient glider in difficult conditions whenever in climb or glide !All that with a very relaxed behavior for the high end B category. I’m convinced to the point that i’m not selling the IOTA for now, and keeping it as a reference B glider for future testing.

After all …what do B pilots really need more than a comfortable, high performance B glider that can deliver when nicely asked? :-)

Working on it. With no volbiv gear, I'm perfect for a medium wing. With vol biv gear I'm into large wing territory. I'd love to go with a Mentor 4 light, but I need to drop 5-10 kilos to reliably ride it. I'm playing with gear and the numbers to see if I can make it work. And also trying to lose weight....lol.....190cm/100kg is just a tough weight to be in this sport.

Hi David,It depends on your priorities and your skills...one is a C glider and the other is a B.The glide in active is similar...the climb is in the D2 side.the agility also on the D2 side.The passive safety is on the B glider side with lower aspect ratio.it up for you to choose...Cheers

Hi Ziad, I'm now flying the Icaro InstinctTE (low EN-B) and I have more then 80h of thermaling with this wing. I'm now about to buy a new wing and I also thinking about the Iota. Do you think is this to big step? just your opinion, I will test it anyway to be sure.Thx

Hi Zlad, awesome review! Thoughts on Sprint 3 vs Iota? I'm a newer pilot, who has flown off and on for 5 yrs (put time and money into school). Of the gliders I have flown and looking at my Logs, I liked the punchier, I seem to prefer the more responsive wings, and am interested in XC, but also don't want to bite off more than I can chew just yet. I've flown the Sprint 3, and note it has shorter brake travel, but haven't tried the IOTA. - Ryan.

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GLIDE MEASUREMENTS ! NUMBERS and obsession !!! :-)

Looking at the glide numbers, is like seeing a beautiful food dish just before tasting it ....Knowing that all measurements are made in calm air(no thermals), and in those conditions we practicably "don't" fly.Thermal flying and transitions are made in moving air,and in those conditions a glider can change from its good performance on paper to less performance in real air and the opposite also.

Glider X that has a glide of 8.5 on paper, could reach the other side much higher than glider Y that have a glide of 9.0 on paper.Why? Because the ability of glider X in head wind glides and moving air is much better than glider Y in converting those bumps to lift and still moving forward ,rather than ,when hitting those lifts glider Y stops and dive loosing the glide.

Glide measurements are pure marketing ,but they still are interesting in putting some spices under the pilots nose ;-) .

Glides wingtip to wingtip in different conditions will show gliders ability much better.And that's why i do the videos.May be we should have a coefficient in efficiency rather than a poor "glide number" on paper. ;-)

BEST GLIDER

Comparisons are only to get an idea what the glider will be and feel like.Some like it soft on the brakes ,others find it too jumpy...But the best glider is the one that each individual pilot will have the most fun with.For some it could be the glider that out-climb or out-glide your club mates....But for most ,it is the one that will give you a smile and a satisfying happy feeling immediately after you land.That's the glider you must choose.So there is no best glider rather than best feeling for a glider.Fly SAFE,Ziad.

256 flown gliders and going up ;-)

UP

Jazz

Stellar

Boogie

Vision

Kantega 1

Kantega XC2

Kibo SM

Summit 2

Summit 3

Summit XC

Summit XC2

Summit XC3

Summit XC4

Trango 2

Trango 3

Trango XC 2

Trango XC 2 light

Trango XC 3 SM

Trango Race SM

Targa 3

Bi-Pick up

AIR DESIGN

Volt 1 SM

Volt 2 SM

Volt 3 SM

Rise 1 M

Rise 2 M

Rise 3 S

PURE M

PRODESIGN

Challenger

Classic

Relax

EDEL

Atlas

Quantum

ZX

Orion

Sector TX

Bi-space

U-Turn

Infinity 4 S

Passion SM

Blacklight S

Lightning S

Blacklight S/M

Blacklight 2 S

Cross rock S

AIREA

Aspect

FLIGHT DESIGN

B4 S

B4 M

A6 M

S2VT

Bi-twin2

NOVA

Artax

X-ray

X-act

Axon

Argon

Aeron

Radon

Tattoo

Prion 2

Ion

Ion 2(light)

Ion 3 XS

Ion 3 S

Ion 4 S

Ion 3 M

Ra

Mamboo

Oryx

Tycoon

Triton 2S

Pheron

Mentor 2

Mentor 3

Mentor 4 S

Mentor 5 S

Mentor 5 XS

Mentor 5 Light XS

Factor 2

Sector S

Bi-X large

Bi For 2

Bion 1 M

Bion 1 L

Bion 2 L

OZONE

Electron

Proton

Proton GT

Octane

Vulcan

Vibe

Buzz Z4

Buzz Z5

Geo 3

Geo 4

Rush 1

Rush 2

Rush 3

Rush 4

Swift 4 SM

Swift 4 S

Delta 1 M

Alpina 1 M

Alpina 2 SM

Alpina 2 ML

Alpina 3 MS

Alpina 3 S

Delta 2 ML

Delta 2 SM

DElta 3 MS

Delta 3 ML

Alpina 3 MS

Mantra R10.3 S

Mantra 4 SM

Mantra 4 ML

Mantra LM5

Mantra LM6

Mantra 6 SM

Zeno MS

Zeno S

NIVIUK

Artik 3 Race

Artic 3

Artic 2

Artik 4

Artik 5 24

Hook 2

Hook 3

Peak 1

Peak 2

Peak 3

Peak 4 21

Peak 4 23

Icepeak 6 23

MACPARA

Eden 1

Eden 5

Eden 6 26

Bi-pasha 1

Marvel M

Magus XC 2

Elan 26

Elan light 24

Elan 2 24

Elan 2 26

Icon

SKY

Atis 4

Apollo M

Brontes

Argos ML

BDG

Tala M

Base M

Cure M

Lynx M

Punk M

Epic M

SKY-COUNTRY

Mystic 2

EVO-X 24

SWING

Astral 2

Mistral 2

Mistral 7

Nexus M

Nyos

Nyos RS

Arcus RS

777

Pawn

Queen M

Queen 2 MS

Rook 2

King S

King M

FREE-X

Spear

Spark

Oxygen

WINDTECH

Honey

Quarx

Pulsar

Serak

Bali

AIRCROSS

U-cross

U-Sport

FIREBIRD

Matrix

GRADIENT

Bliss

Saphir

Aspen 1

Aspen 2

Aspen 3

Aspen 4

Aspen 5

Aspen 6

Bi-Golden 1

Golden 3

Nevada 1 26

Nevada 2 S

Avax XC 5 24

Avax XC 5 26

SKYWALK

Poison 3 S

X-alps 3 S

Cayenne 4 S

Cayenne 5 XS

Chili 3 S

Chili 4 XS

Cumeo XS

Tequila 4 S

Tequila 5 S

Arruba 3 S

ADVANCE

Epsilon 6

Epsilon 7

Iota 26

Iota 2 26

Sigma 4

Sigma 5

Sigma 7

Sigma 8

Sigma 9

Sigma 10

Omega 4

Omega 5

Omega 8

Omega X-Alps 2 23

Bi-Beta 4

GIN

TRIBE

Sprint EVO

Sprint 3 M

Bonanza

Zoom

Zoom Race

Carrera M

Carrera S

Carrera plus S

Explorer S

Boomerang Sport M

GTO 1 S

GTO 1 M

GTO 2 S

SOL

Eclipse

Torck

Lotus One

Ellus

Synergy 2

Bi-kangaroo

AIRWAVE

Fusion

Xmx

Mustang 2

Magic 1

Magic 3

Sport 2

AERODYNE

Dune

Shamane

Whisper

SUPAIR

Leaf S

Taska S

AXIS

Venus 1

Venus 1 RX

Venus 2

Venus 2 RX

Venus 3

Vega 2

Comet 2 S

ESCAPE

Smax SR

AXESSE

ZunZun 21

PHI

Synphonia

Flow

Cosmos S

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